Table for punching stair-stringers.



PATBNTED APR. 30, 1907.

M. GROSSMAN.

TABLE FOR PUNUHING STAIR STRINGERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. 9

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 851.931. PATENTED APR-30,1907. M. GROSSMAN.

TABLE FOR PUNGHING STAIR STRINGERS. APPLIGATIQN FILED JULY 26. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

PA'I'BNTED APR. 30, 1907.

M. GROSSMAN.

TABLE FOR PUNGHING STAIR STRINGBRS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

KN MQ nu: NnRRls Fzyzns cm. wAsNmarom-o. c.

BATBNTED APR. 30. 1907. GROSSMAN.

TABLE FOR PUNGHING STAIR STRINGERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1906.

4 HBETSSHEET 4.

MARTIN GROSSMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TABLE FOR PUNCHING STAlR-STRINGERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed July 26, 1906. Serial No. 327,817.

To It 'LU/Mfllb it Ill/(Ly concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN GROSSMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Tables for Punching Stair-stringers, of which the following is such a lull, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Heretofore in making stairways having metallic stringers to the inner sides of which are riveted angle-iron supports, for the treads and risers of the stairs, it has been the cusi tom to take the stringer, after the same h as been cut to shape and size, and to mark oil with a square on the stringer in pencil, the relative positions of the riser and tread, in full size, and then to place the angle-iron on the stringer directly over the marks thus made from the square, and mark oil the places Where the rivet holes are to be punched for each riser and tread, separately. This old method requires much time and labor and, in addition to being very slow, it requires the services of skilled mechanics, for laying out and marking the holes to be punched with the particular accuracy which is necessarily required in the construction Oil stairways. Furthermore, the old method is a tedious one in that only one hole is punched at a time.

My present invention seeks to overcome the above noted as well as other drawbacks to the heretofore practiced method of punching the rivet holes, and I have provided a very simple form of apparatus by which the preliminary laying-out and marking-oil by the use of a square and so forth, the relative positions of a tread and riser and the location of the rivet holes, is dispensed with, and whereby a complete set of rivet holes for a riser and an adjacent tread are punched simultaneously, and the iirst set ol rivet holes thus simultaneously punched serving, in conjunction with a positioning and locking device, to position the stringer properly for the exact location of the next succeeding set of rivet holes and so on through the series, thereby quickening the operation of finishing the stringer and dispensing with skilled mechanics for the particular work of laying oil' the places for the rivet holes. Furthermore, I provide means whereby the apparatus may be easily and quickly adjusted to bring the rivet holes nearer to or farther from the long edge of the stringer or adjusted to vary the relation of the angle between the riser and tread to the long edge of the stringer so as to vary and determine the relative size of the riser and tread.

The invention consists in the various novel and peculiar arrangements and combinations of the several dill'cront parts oi" the apparatus, all as hereinafter l'ully set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

1 have illustrated a type of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of my in'lproved apparatus for punching stair stringers. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are views of cross sections of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the planes of such sections being indicated by the lines 2 2, 3-3 and 4l.+t, respectively, in .Fig. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view in plan, of a stringer piece placed in the apparatus with several sets of holes punched therein and in position for punching another set, with the gage set in oblique position. Fig. (i is a diagrammatic view of the stringer punched by the apparatus when set as shown in Fig. 5 and with the dotted line showing the position of the angleirons for the risers and treads, respectively. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view in plan, of a stringer piece placed in the apparatus with several sets cl holes punched therein and in position for the punching cl another set, and with the gage set inan oblique position, opposite to that shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the stringer piece with the sets of holes punched. therein by the apparatus when adjusted as shown in Fig. 7, and with the relative positions ol the angle-irons for the risers and treads indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view in plan, of a stringer piece placed in the apparatus with several sets of holes punched therein and in position for the punching of another set, and with the age set parallel or straight. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the stringer piece with the sets of holes punched therein by the apparatus when adjusted as shown in Fig. 9, and with the relative positions of the angleirons for the risers and treads indicated in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numbers of reference designate like parts throughout, 1 is a table or platform made of solid material, such as steel and sufficiently heavy for the purposes of its uses, namely, to form a substantial structure on which the punching operation of a series of holes may be performed, when a stringer is placed upon such platform and the table secured in the punching machine. This table is designed to be bolted or firmly secured to the bottom of the punching mechanism, which it isnot deemed necessary to herewith illustrate, and the table is then used on the order of a die. Near the center of length of this platform and toward the front edge are mounted three dies 2, 3 and 4, respectively. These dies consist in thick circular blocks or disks made of suitable metal and with a central perforation 2 3, and 4 therein, respectively. The die blocks are each countersunk in the upper surface of the table 1, being let down into suitable recesses 5 therein, so as to lie flush with the upper surface of the table.-

The die-blocks are each held securely in position by means of a set-screw 6, which takes through a threaded perforation 7 in the edge of the table so that the inner end of said screw may engage the outer face of the die block. Beneath each of the dies and extending through the table is a perforation S, which is in aXial alinement with the perforation in the center of each die, but larger than the same, and the two perforations together form a continuous opening for the punchingtool to pass through and for the punched out material to drop down through. The set of dies 2, 3 and 4, are disposed in a peculiar relative position, their relation being What I term triangular, by which I mean that when the center of these three dies are joined by straight lines such lines form a triangle, the sides of which it will be noted are each of a different length. straight edge of the stringer lies straight across the table from right to left, when the punching of the three holes is effected by the passage of the punching tools through the material of the stringer thence into the die holes, it will be seen that the holes punched by means of the die 2 at the left, may serve as a rivet hole for the part of the angle-iron against which the riser is placed, (indicated at 9), while the two remaining holes, punched by means of the dies 3 and 4, may serveas rivet holes for the angle-iron supporting the tread next above such riser, (indicated at t), and so on, so that when the gang of punching tools has simultaneously operated to punch the three holes, corresponding to the dies 2, 3 and 4, and which we may assume is at one Assuming that the upper end of the stringer, the stringer thus punched is shifted endwise on the table until the central hole of the three of the set of holes just punched, (and corresponding to the die 3) is passed over the positioning pin 9, which is located such a distance from the set of dies that when the pin is inserted into such central one of the set of rivet holes, the stringer is then in position to automatically locate the place for the punching of the next suc ceeding set of rivet holes and the punchingtools may then be operated to punch such second set of rivet holes, and so on throughout the length of the stringer. This arrangement completely dispenses with any preliminary laying-out, by means of a square or other instrument, of the relative positions of the angle-irons for the risers and treads, as well as the location of rivet holes for such angle-irons and it accomplishes the punching of the rivet holes in a set of three with per fect accuracy.

The positioning pin 9 is adjustably mounted in'the sliding blocks 10 and 11 which move on ways 12 and 13, on opposite sides of an elongated slot 14 which is arranged obliquely in the table. This peculiar position of the slot 14 for the positioning device is adapted for use in conjunction with the adjustable gage member or bar 16 which is mounted near theback of the table and extends the length thereof and againstwhich one of the long straight edges of the stringer is held during the punching operations. This gage or striking bar 16 is provided with a set of releasable fasteners each comprising a bolt 17, the head of which lies toward the under side of the table, with the stem of the bolt assing loosely through a transverse slot 18 in the table and through a perforation 19, in the bar and to the upper side thereof, where the screw-threaded bolt of the stem is provided with a binding nut 20. By loosening the nuts 20, the bar may be moved toward the front or back edge of the table, as desired, each end thereof being adjustable alike, if desired, or the bar may be swung 011 its center bolt or pin 17, the perforation 19 in the bar being circular for that purpose, and the bar thus set angularly or obliquely. When the bar is adjusted to the desired position, it being shown atabout the central point of its range of adjustment in Figs. 1 to 4, the binding nuts 20 are each then turned down hard so as to hold the bar in fixed position and the set-screws 21, which work through screw-threaded openings 22, in a fixed piece or flange 23, at the back edge of the table, are setso as to firmly engage the back of the bar 16 to make it more secure. The set screws also serve to determine the adjustment of the bar itself.

For convenience I have cut away the front edge of the table l at the point 15 in IIO order to gain ready access to the set-screws 6, which bind the dies 2, 3 and 4,respectively, in their countersunk positions. I have also provided the upper surface of the table with anti-friction rollers 24, which engages the flat side of a stringer when placed on the table and make it easy to shift the stringer lengthwise, in order to bring it into position to punch the successive sets of holes.

l/Vhile I have shown only three dies mounted on the table or platform, which is to be secured in the punching machine it will, of course, be understood that this number may be varied as desired, and the same features of the invention as herein described may still be present.

In Fig. 5 the stringer piece 25 the long edges of which are indicated at w and y, is

shown with several sets of rivet holes 2", 3

and 4 as punched therein, by the dies 2, 3 and 4, which are indicated in this Fig. in dotted lines, and as the positioning pin is located in one of the holes 3* of the set, and the long edge a: is placed against the gage 16, the punching tools acting in conjunction with the dies 2, 3 and 4, will punch the neXt set of holes in the position indicated by the small dotted circles of the dies. In Fig. 6, the stringer 25 is shown with a full set of rivet holes punched therein and the dotted lines 1 and t indicate, respectively, the outer side of the angle-iron of the riser andtread, respectively, the riser angle-iron being bolted in position by means of the rivet hole 2 while the tread angle-iron is bolted in position by means of the rivet holes 3 and 4 It will be noted that in the stringer 25 thus punched, the gage bar 16 is set obliquely with the nearest end of the bar, in respect to the front of the table, being at right hand and the farthest end at the left, and that the positioning pin 9 is set very near its left hand range of movement. Thls adjustment will produce the riser and tread in the relative proportions shown by the dotted lines 1" and t in Fig. 6 and in which the tread is comparatively deep.

In Fig. 7 the gage bar 16 is shown as adjusted in oblique position but in the opposite direction to that shown in Fig. 5, that is to say, the right hand end of the bar is farther from the front edge of the table 1 than the left hand, and there is the further difference that the positionin pin 9 is shown as adjusted to near its right hand limit of movement, with respect to the length of the table. This adjustment of the positioning pin 9 brings the roups of rivet holes somewhat closer toget er than in Fi 5 and accordingly it decreases the depth of the riser as compared with that Fig. The stringer 25 punched in the machine with this adjustment, and as shown in Fig. 8, in which the relative positions of the risers and treads are shown by the dotted lines r, 25, respectively, will have a tread not quite so high as that shown in Fig. 6 and a riser of considerable less depth than that shown in Fig. 6.

In Fi 9, the riser 25 is shown as being punched with the gage bar 16 set parallel or straight with the front ed e of the table and with this adjustment of the gage, the positioning pin 9 is set about midway of its range of adjustment in its slot, as indicated in this Fig. This brings the groups of rivet holes nearer together than in Fig. 5 and also than in Fig. 7 and in the stringer 25 punched with this adjustment and shown in Fig. 10, the riser has about the same height as shown in Fig. 8 but has more depth to be tread, the tread in Fig. 10 being a medium depth between that shown in Fig. 6 and 8, respectively.

From these diagrams it will be seen that as the gang of punching tools, the triangular positions of which are indicated by the dies 2, 3 and 4, remain fixed relatively to the central point on which the gage bar may be angularly adjusted or swung, and likewise remains fixed relatively to the front and rear edge of the table itself, that any angular or back and forth adjustment of the gage bar will at once vary the relative proportions of the risers and treads. This may be explained in this way. In each of the Figs. 6, 8 and 10, I have laid off a right-angled triangle indicated by the two lines a, l), and the solid line 0, andv have bi-sected the rightangle by a line (i. This line (Z may be taken as the determining factor as it bi-sects the right-angle formed between the riser and the tread. This bi-secting line d in each of the Figs. 6, 8 and 10 is considerably inclined out of vertical with respect to the straight edge a; of the stringers. Upon comparing this inclination of the bi-secting line (I out of the vertical, it is seen that that shown in Fig. 6 is more inclined than that shown in Fig. 10 and the latter is more inclined than that shown in Fig. 8, so that the position in Fig. 10 is the intermediate one as to the inclination of this line. If the height of the riser be made equal to the depth of the tread, it will be seen that the lines of the riser and tread, respectively, would correspond with the sides a and I) of the right-angled triangle a, b and c and in such case the bi-secting line (Z wouldbe normal to theedge a: and hence to the gage line of the bar 16. As soon, however, as the bi-secting line (I is inclined out of this normal position the relative proportions of the riser and tread are made to vary as hereinbefore indicated, so that by adopting the position of this bi-secting line as a factor in determining the hei ht of the riser or the depth of the tread, t ie invention may be carried out. By moving the gage bar 16 straight outwardly, the gang of punching tools remaining in the same position as indicated by the dies 2, 3 and 4, the distance between the straight edge at of the stringer and the group of rivet holes punched is lessened, and this is found to increase the height of the riser. The propor tions which are often used are a nine inch tread with a seven and one-half inch riser, and an eight and three-quarter inch tread with a seven and one-quarter inch riser, the variation in the riser, as a rule being not so pronounced in the ordinary stair construction.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that by the use of my improved apparatus, unskilled labor may be employed to operate the machine, since it requires only the adjustment of the gage bar 16, andv that of the gang of punching-tools, corresponding to the three dies 2, 3 and 4, to start the machine. Furthermore, the method of punching out the rivet holes is very much expedited and much more work can be turned out in a given time than has heretofore been accomplished under the old operation, since a complete set of rivet holes is punched at one and the same operation, and perfect ac curacy of location is absolutely assured.

While I have only shown one rivet-hole for the riser angle-iron and two for the tread, it will, of course, be understood that this number may be varied as desired'and that hardng more or less of these rivet-holes does not in any way affect the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for punching rivet holes in stair stringers, the combination of a table, means for forming groups of rivet holes for the risers and treads, and means for relatively changing the relation of said hole forming means relative to a longitudinal edge of the stringer, whereby the apparatus is adapted to punch for differently proportioned risers and treads.

2. In an apparatus for punching rivet holes in stair stringers, the combination of a table, means for forming groups of rivet holes for the risers and treads, and means for relatively changing the relation of said hole forming means relative to a longitudinal edge of the stringer, whereby the apparatus is adapted to punch for differently proportioned risers and treads, and adjustable positioning means projecting above the surface of the table to enter a previously punched hole in the stringer.

3. In a machine for punching rivet holes in stair stringers, the combination of a table having a group of dies mounted thereon to co-operate with the punching tools, an adjustable gage member for the stringer having angular and transverse adjustment with relation to such group of dies, whereby the position of the holes in the stringer may be varied to vary the relative height and depth of the riser and tread, respectively.

4. In a machine for punching rivet-holes in stair-stringers, the combination of a table or platform having a set of dies mounted in triangular relation thereon to receive the punching-tools, an adjustable positioning and locking device for entering one of the holes of a set that has been punched to position and hold the stringer for locating the next succeeding set of holes to be punched, and an angularly and transversely adjustable gage-member for engaging one long edge of the stringer when placed on said table.

5. In a machine for punching rivet-holes in stair-stringers, the combination of a table or platform having a set of dies mounted in triangular relation thereon to receive the punching-tools, an adjustable gage-member for engaging one long edge of the stringer when placed on said table, a vertical positioning and'locking pin adjustably mounted on said table and adapted to be set to enter a certain hole of a set that has been punched to position and hold the stringer for punching the next succeeding set of holes.

6. In a machine for punching rivet-holes in stair-stringers, the combination of a table or platform having a set of dies mounted in triangular relation thereon to receive the punching-tools, an adjustable gage-member for engaging one long edge of the stringer when placed on said table, a positioning and locking pin projecting upwardly from said table and adjustable diagonally thereon and adapted to be set to enter a certain hole of a set that has been punched to position and hold the stringer for punching the next succeeding set of holes.

7. In a machine for punching rivet-holes in stair-stringers, the combination of a table or platform having a set of dies mounted in triangular relation thereon to receive the punching-tools, an adjustable gage-member for engaging one long edge of the stringer when placed on said table, a positioning and locking device comprising an obliquely arranged opening or slot in said table, a slide mounted in said slot and a pin mounted on said slide so as to project above the table, and means for holding the slide in fixed position.

8. In a machine for punching rivet-holes in stair-stringers, the combination of a table or platform having a set of dies mounted in triangular relation thereon to receive the punching-tools, a positioning and locking device for entering one of the holes of a set that has been punched to position and hold the stringer for locating the next succeeding set of holes to be punched, and an adjustable gage-device comprising a bar, a set of transverse slots in the table and releasable fastening devices mounted in said slots and upon which said bar is mounted, and set screws at the back of said table for engaging the back of said gage bar.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the two subscriblng witnesses.

MARTIN GROSSMAN.

Witnesses:

BERNARD S. DEUTsoH, MEYER WV. SIEGEL. 

